Acoustic fluid analyzer

ABSTRACT

A method of determining properties of a formation fluid based on measurements of fluid sound speed, a measurement of fluid density, or both. The properties include compressibility, thermal conductivity, and gas oil ratio. The compressibility of a fluid is equal to the reciprocal of the product of the sound speed squared and fluid density. The density and the sound speed can be measured acoustically. The method further includes a manner of processing data including applying the Savitzky-Golay method and utilizing a variable thresholding technique.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wellbore evaluation operations. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methodfor ascertaining the compressibility of connate fluid within a wellboreand the presence of a gaseous phase in that fluid.

2. Description of Related Art

The sampling of connate fluid contained in subterranean formationsprovides a method of testing formation zones of possible interest withregard to hydrocarbon bearing potential. This involves recovering asample of any formation fluids present for later analysis in alaboratory environment while causing a minimum of damage to the testedformations. The formation sample is essentially a point test of thepossible productivity of subsurface earth formations. Additionally, acontinuous record of the control and sequence of events during the testis made at the surface. From this record, valuable formation pressureand permeability data as well as data determinative of fluidcompressibility, density and viscosity can be obtained for formationreservoir analysis.

Generally connate fluid sampling involves disposing a sonde 10 into awellbore 5 via a wireline 8. Oppositely located on the outer portion ofthe sonde 10 usually are a sample port 14 and an urging means 12. Whenthe sample port 14 is proximate to a formation of interest 6, the urgingmeans 12 is extended against the inner surface of the wellbore 5 therebyengaging the sample port 14 into the formation 6. The engagement of thesample port 14 pierces the outer diameter of the wellbore 5 and enablesfluid communication between the connate fluid in the formation 6 and thesample port 14. As will be described in more detail below, after urgingthe sample port 14 into the formation 6, the connate fluid can besiphoned into the sonde 10 with a pumping means disposed therein.

Downhole multi-tester instruments have been developed with extendablesampling probes that engage the borehole wall and withdraw fluid samplesfrom a formation of interest as well as measure pressure of the fluidwithin the formation. Traditionally these downhole instruments comprisean internal draw-down piston that is reciprocated hydraulically orelectrically for drawing connate fluid from the formation to theinstrument.

Generally, the downhole multi-test sampling devices incorporate a fluidcircuit for the sampling system which requires the connate fluidextracted from the formation, together with any foreign matter such asfine sand, rocks, mud-cake, etc. encountered by the sampling probe, tobe drawn into a relatively small volume chamber and which is dischargedinto the borehole when the tool is closed. An example of such a devicecan be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,152. Before closing, a sample can beallowed to flow into a sample tank through a separate but parallelcircuit. Other methods provide for the sample to be collected throughthe same fluid circuit.

When exposed to an open hole, the fluid characteristics of formationfluid can change rapidly, thus it is important that the formation fluidbe removed as quickly as possible. However, it is important that theformation flow rate be regulated in order to prevent dropping the fluidpressure below its “bubble-point” since measuring separated fluids doesnot result in a representative sample. After having these componentscome out of solution, they typically cannot be easily recombined whichresults in an unrepresentative sample having altered fluid properties.

Recently developed reservoir testing devices illustrate one method ofmeasuring the bubble-point pressures of the connate fluid at the time ofsample collection. This can be accomplished using known techniques oflight transmissibility to detect bubbles in the liquid. However thismethod has some drawbacks when particulate matter is present in thefluid thereby resulting in possible erroneous results. Other methodsinclude trapping a known volume of formation fluid and increasing itsvolume gradually at a constant temperature. The measured changes involume and pressure provide a plot of pressure versus volume in order toascertain the value of the bubble-point. This value is estimated withinthe region of the plot where the pressure change with volume firstdeviates from the initial straight line.

Unfortunately the pumping devices currently in use with the abovedescribed sampling devices have some inherent drawbacks. For example,control of the electrical or hydraulic actuation means of the presentlyused pumping systems is not accurate that in turn results in aninability to fully control the speed of the pumps. Not being able tofully control pump speed prohibits the capability of ceasing pumpingoperations should the pressure of the connate fluid fall below itsbubble point and also hinders the ability to accurately measure thebubble point. Since sampling connate fluid at pressures below its bubblepoint negatively affects the accuracy of the sampling data results.Therefore a need exists for a means of accurately analyzing propertiesof connate fluid without affecting the condition or state of the fluid.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a method of estimating a fluid propertycomprising, generating an external acoustic signal, measuring the signaltravel time through the fluid, determining the fluid density,determining the fluid sound speed based on the measured travel time, andcalculating the property of the fluid based on the fluid density and thefluid sound speed. The step of determining fluid density of the presentmethod is based on the measured time travel. The method further includesplacing a sample of fluid within the vessel in communication with asignal generator and activating the signal generator to create acousticsignal reverberations within the fluid.

The step of generating a signal external to the vessel can be performedwith a device such as a piezoelectric device, an electromagneticacoustic transmitter, a pulsed laser, or a flexural resonator. The fluidproperty being determined can include fluid compressibility, fluidthermal conductivity, and fluid gas oil ratio. The value of the fluidcompressibility is the reciprocal of the product of the fluid soundspeed squared and the fluid density. The method disclosed herein canalso include determining the presence of gas within the fluid, where thepresence of gas is detected based on a signal strength ranging from noresponse to a low response.

The method can further comprise processing the measured signal traveltime with the Savitzky-Golay method. The method can also furthercomprise processing the measured signal with a variable thresholdmethod.

Also disclosed herein is a sampling device comprising a container havingfluid therein, a signal generator in cooperation with the container, anda receiver in cooperation with the container. The receiver is capable ofrecording signal travel through the fluid, wherein the fluid sound speedcan be determined by analyzing the signal travel time, and wherein afluid property can be determined based on the fluid density and fluidsound speed. The fluid property being determined includescompressibility, density, gas oil ratio, gas content, bubble point, andthermal conductivity. The sampling device can further include aprocessor in cooperation with the receiver for calculating the fluidproperty. The signal generator can also act as a receiver. The fluidbeing sampled can be downhole connate fluid.

The signal generator of the sampling device can be a piezoelectricdevice, an EMAT, a pulsed laser, or a flexural resonator.

Further included is a method of determining fluid density comprising,generating a signal, passing the signal through a fluid, measuring thesignal travel time through the fluid, and determining the fluid densitybased on the measured signal travel time. The method of determiningfluid density can further comprising determining the fluidcompressibility based on the determined fluid density and the measuredsignal travel time. The step of generating a signal and passing thesignal through a fluid, while determining density, is accomplished byplacing a sample of fluid within a vessel in communication with a signalgenerator and activating the signal generator thereby creating anacoustic signal within the fluid. The step of generating a signal isperformed with a device such as a piezoelectric device, an EMAT, apulsed laser, and a flexural resonator. The method of determining fluiddensity can also include determining the presence of gas within thefluid. The presence of gas is detected based on a signal strengthranging from no response to a low response. The method of determiningfluid density can further include measuring the thermal conductivity ofthe fluid and using the measured thermal conductivity to determine thefluid density.

A method of determining the thermal conductivity of a fluid is includedherein. This method comprises, generating a signal, passing the signalthrough the fluid, measuring the signal travel time through the fluid,determining the fluid density, determining the fluid sound speed basedon the measured travel time, and calculating the thermal conductivity ofthe fluid based on the fluid density and the fluid sound speed. Thethermal conductivity of the fluid, with regard to the method ofdetermining thermal conductivity, is equal to the following product;(p)(k)(c)(N), where p=a proportionality constant ranging from 2.8 to3.0, k=Boltzmann's constant, c=fluid sound speed, and N=molecules perunit volume of the fluid. The fluid being analyzed in determiningthermal conductivity can be a connate fluid. The method of determiningthe thermal conductivity may further comprise disposing the fluid withina vessel. The step of generating a signal for determining thermalconductivity is performed with a device such as a piezoelectric device,an EMAT, a pulsed laser, or a flexural resonator.

Further included with the present methods and apparatus is a method ofdetermining the gas oil ratio of a fluid comprising, generating asignal, passing the signal through the fluid, measuring the signaltravel time through the fluid, determining the fluid sound speed basedon the measured travel time, and calculating the gas oil ratio of thefluid based on the fluid sound speed. The fluid under consideration inthe method of determining the gas oil ratio of a fluid is a downholeconnate fluid. The step of generating a signal is performed with adevice selected from the list consisting of a piezoelectric device, anEMAT, a pulsed laser, and a flexural resonator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 portrays a sampling sonde disposed in a cut-away of a wellbore.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cut-away view of a sampling system.

FIG. 3 represents plots containing raw data and processed data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method disclosed herein provides a manner of evaluating thecompressibility of a fluid based on the measured fluid density andmeasured sound speed of the fluid. With reference now to FIG. 2, anembodiment of a sampling system 22 of the present device is illustratedin a partial cut-away view. The sampling system 22 of FIG. 2 comprises avessel or container 20 in cooperation with a signal generator 16. Theouter surface of the container 20 can have a radial or rectangularconfiguration as well as the shape of a tubular. Optionally the vesselor container 20 can be comprised of a conduit or pipe.

As shown, the container 20 should be capable of retaining and storingthe fluid 18 within its confines during analysis. Although shown as openat its top, the container 20 can also be sealed thereby fullyencapsulating the fluid 18 therein. The signal generator 16 can beattached to the outer or first wall 24 of the container 20 or maintainedin place. As will be described herein below, for the purposes ofreference, both the first and second walls (24, 26) shown adjacent tothe signal generator 16 are shown as well as the third and fourth walls(28, 30) distal from the signal generator 16.

With respect to the signal generator 16, it can be comprised of anydevice capable of producing a recordable acoustic signal that passesthrough the fluid. This includes traditional acoustic devices such aspiezoelectric devices, however other acoustic transducers can also beused to accomplish this function. For example, an Electro-MagneticAcoustic Transducer (EMAT) can insert ultrasonic waves into metal byelectromagnetic coupling. Alternatively, a pulsed laser that strikes anobject can generate acoustic waves at a frequency that depends on thelaser pulse frequency; Moreover, the signal generator 16 can also beused as a receiver for receiving and recording reflections of thesignals generated by the signal generator 16. One example of a flexuralmechanical resonator useful with the device disclosed herein isdescribed in detail in Patent Publication No.: U.S. 2002/017885 havingSer. No. 10/144,965 published Dec. 5, 2002, the disclosure of which isincorporated for reference herein in its entirety.

In one alternative of the present device, the sampling system 22 iscombined with the sonde 10 and in fluid communication with the sampleport 14. In this embodiment, connate fluid from the formation 6 iscollected by the sample port 14 and delivered to the container 20 foranalysis of the fluid. When used in conjunction with the sonde 10, thesampling system 22 is preferably housed within the sonde 10 duringdeployment and operation of the sampling system 22. Combining thesampling system 22 with the sonde 10 provides the advantage of “realtime” sampling and reduces the risk of allowing changes in either thepressure or the temperature of the fluid that could in turn affect thesampling results. However, use of the sampling system 22 is not limitedto the fluid collection apparatus of FIG. 1, but can be used with anytype of device or circuit used in collecting downhole connate fluid.

In one non-limiting example of operation of the present method disclosedherein, connate fluid is drawn into the sample port 14 of a downholesonde 10. The fluid is then introduced into the container 20 forsubsequent analysis. The signal generator 16 is then activated so that asignal 17, such as one or more acoustic pulses, is generated. For thepurposes of convenience the generated signal 17 is illustrated as aseries of curved lines emanating from the transducer 16. After leavingthe signal generator 16, the signal 17 passes through the first andsecond walls (24, 26) of the container 20, into the contained fluid 18,and onto the distal third and fourth walls (28, 30). A portion of thegenerated signal 17 (the reflected signal 19) reflects back to thedirection of the signal generator 16. Similarly, the reflected signal 19is illustrated for convenience as a series of curved lines directedtowards the signal generator 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the signalgenerator 16 can operate as a transmitter and also as a signal receiver.Optionally a separate transducer (not shown) could be included thatoperates solely as a signal receiver for receiving the reflected signals19.

When the signal generator is a piezoelectric transducer, a short voltagespike can be applied to the transducer that typically lasts about 1-2microseconds. This spike causes the transducer to resonate at itsresonant frequency, which is typically from about 5 MHz to about 10 MHz.Analogous to a bell that rings for a while after it has been struck by ahammer, the transducer rings, primarily at its resonant frequency, forabout a microsecond. An ever-decreasing portion of this microsecond-longpulse bounces back and forth between the tube wall that is bounded bysurface 24 and surface 26, (which is in contact with the transducer 16)because a portion of the pulse is transmitted into the fluid upon eachbounce off surface 26. The transmitted portion of the pulse passesbeyond surface 26, enters the fluid 18, reflects from the surface 28,and eventually returns to be detected by the transducer 16. The acoustictransducer serves both as source and receiver. A high-speed (40-70 MHz)analog-to-digital converter monitors the signal received by thetransducer.

As shown, the signal generator 16 receives and records the reflectedsignal for subsequent analysis. The recorded signal can either beimmediately processed to determine fluid data, transmitted from thesonde 10 to a separate site for storage or data processing, or can berecorded within the sonde 10 for later analysis. As is known, the soundspeed (c) of the liquid is determined by dividing the travel time of thesignal through the fluid 18 by the distance the signal traveled throughthe fluid. This can be accomplished by designating the letter “d” as thedistance between surface 26 and 28. Moreover, the variable 2t can bedesignated as the time difference between the arrival time of the firstecho (corresponding to one round trip going from surface 24 to 26 andback again to 24) and the arrival time of the echo off surface 28(corresponding to one round trip from 24, past 26, to 28, andeventually, back to 24). Therefore, 2t is amount of time it took soundto travel a round-trip distance, 2d, within the fluid from surface 26 tosurface 28 and back to surface 26. The sound speed therefore is d/t.

Fluid density, can be determined acoustically from the followingrelationship for an acoustic pulse bouncing back and forth betweensurface 24 and surface 26:ρ_(F)=ρ_(W)(c _(W) /c _(F))[1+Sqrt(R _(WF))]/[(1−Sqrt(R _(WF))];  (1)

where:

ρ_(W)=Transducer wall density in g/cc,

ρ_(T)=Transducer density in g/cc

c_(W)=Tube wall longitudinal sound speed,

c_(T)=Transducer longitudinal sound speed

ρ_(F)=Fluid density in g/cc,

c_(F)=Fluid sound speed,

R_(WF)=Fraction of energy reflected at all/Fluid interface, and

R_(WF)=(ρ_(W)c_(W)−ρ_(F)c_(F))²/(ρ_(W)c_(W)+ρ_(F)c_(F))².

The details of acoustically determining fluid density can be found inpending patent application Ser. No. 10/801,473 filed on Mar. 16, 2004,the entirety of which is incorporated for reference herein. Fluiddensity could also be measured by using flexural mechanical resonatorsas described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/144,965 filed on May14, 2002 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Downhole FluidCharacterization Using Flexural Mechanical Resonators” by Rocco DiFoggiowhich is incorporated herein by reference and claims priority from U.S.Patent application Ser. No. 60/291,136 filed on May 15, 2001 entitled“Method and Apparatus for Downhole Fluid Characterization Using FlexuralMechanical Resonators” by Rocco DiFoggio. Fluid density could also bedetermined by any other means such as by measuring the pore pressuregradient across the zone from which the fluid is being extracted.Knowing the fluid's density and measuring its sound speed allowsdetermination of the fluid's compressibility, which is much simpler thanthe current method of determining compressibility downhole by trapping avolume of fluid, expanding the volume, and measuring the drop inpressure per volume increase.

The bulk modulus B of a fluid is equal to the reciprocal of thecompressibility of the fluid, B=1/K. It is also known that the soundspeed is equal to the square root of the fluid's bulk modulus divided bythe fluid density, c=(B/ρ)^(1/2). Substituting the reciprocal ofcompressibility for the bulk modulus and isolating compressibilityyields the following equation:K=1/(c ²ρ)  (2)Accordingly, having determined the fluid density, ρ, and the fluid soundspeed, c, as described herein, the fluid compressibility can then becalculated using equation (2).

In one embodiment of the method and apparatus herein disclosed, the rawamplitude data can be first processed by applying a digital bandpassfilter to reject any frequencies that are not close to the acousticsource frequency. For example, for a 10 MHz acoustic source and a 40 MHzsampling frequency, one could apply a 9-11 MHz digital bandpass filter.Next, one can compute the square of the amplitude at each sampling time,which corresponds to the energy received at that time. Then, one cangenerate a cumulative sum of squares (CSS) of these amplitudes, which isthe cumulative sum of energy received up until that time. The digitalbandpass filtering and cumulative sum of squares have already smoothedthe raw data and removed some noise. We can further smooth the filteredcumulative sum of squares data and also take the first and secondderivatives of the CSS using the Savitzky-Golay method (Savitzky andGolay, Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 36, No. 8, July 1964). The resultingdata can be further processed by using a variable threshold method.Smoothing the data and the utilization of the Savitzky-Golay method helpto reduce noise from the desired signal. The variable thresholdingmethod serves to distinguish recorded signals emanating from the farwall of the vessel or container 20 from signals received that emanatefrom within the near wall (between surfaces 24 and 26) of the vessel orcontainer 20.

With reference now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a plot having a rawdata plot 32, a smooth data plot 34, and a variable threshold plot 38.In FIG. 3, the portion of the raw data has been redacted (as well as thecorresponding smoothed and threshold data) that corresponds to theringing of the transducer immediately after it receives a high voltagespike. This plot shows sampling of the signal amplitude at discreteintervals (digital data). To avoid aliasing, the sampling rate isseveral times the acoustic source frequency. After recording the data,the square of the amplitude for each channel is computed. The amplitudefor each channel is proportional to the acoustic intensity (energy) thatwas received at that channel's time. Next, the cumulative sum (the“integral”) of these squared amplitudes is calculated.

The data smoothing is further accomplished by computing the firstderivative with respect to time of the cumulative sum of squares usingSavitzky-Golay (SG) coefficients, which helps create smoothed numericalderivatives. Enhanced smoothing is accomplished by using Savitzky-Golaycoefficients of lower order (such as square or cube) polynomials over afairly large number of points (25 channels). The first derivative of thecumulative sum of squares is the smoothed energy received versus time,which shows distinct acoustic energy pulses. The resulting valuesproduced by the Savitzky-Golay method are shown plotted in the smoothdata plot 34 of FIG. 3.

In order to determine the local maxima and minima of the firstderivative, the second derivative is taken of the cumulative sum ofsquares using Savitzky-Golay (SG) coefficients of a low order and alarge number of points. The local maxima (pulse energy peaks) of thefirst derivative curve can be used to indicate the time at which aparticular pulse reflection is received by the receiving transducer 16.It should be pointed out that the second derivative crosses zero whenthe first derivative reaches either its local maxima or minima. A pulsepeak occurs between two channels whenever the second derivative changesfrom positive (in the left channel) to negative (in the right channel)with increasing time and the first derivative exceeds some variablethreshold, which is described in detail later. Subchannel timeresolution can be achieved by interpolating so as to estimate thelocation between two channels where the second derivative crosses zero.Alternatively, energy maxima can be distinguished from energy minima(both of which correspond to zeros of the second derivative of the CSS)based on the sign of the third derivative of the CSS.

Using the data obtained from the processed signal, the sound speed ofthe fluid within the vessel or container 20 is twice the wall thicknessdivided by the (round-trip) time between reverberation pulse peakswithin the tube wall. The wall sound speed may change with temperatureor with pressure of the fluid inside the tube thus causing the wall'sacoustic impedance to change. The wall's acoustic impedance must beknown to compute fluid density from fluid sound speed and the decay rateof within-wall pulse echo reverberations. Direct downhole measurement ofthe wall's sound speed can be made from the wall thickness and the timebetween within-wall pulse peak reverberations. The wall speed is oneparameter used to calculate the density of whatever fluid is in contactwith the wall. Another factor in calculating fluid density is the walldensity but changes in the wall's density with temperature and pressureare a much smaller effect that can usually be ignored or estimated froma table.

The smooth data plot 34 comprises reflected signals both from signalreverberations within the near wall (between the first and second wall24 and 26) as well as a reflection from the far wall (third wall 28).These reflected signals are illustrated as curves 36 on the smooth dataplot 34. The acoustic signal reverberating within the near wall decaysover time, this can be seen in the decreasing local maxima of the curves36 of the smooth data plot 34 of FIG. 3. However, the amplitude of thesignal reflected from the far wall (third wall 28) will exceed theamplitude of the last observable within-wall reverberation. Based onthis, the variable threshold method can be used to determine the time(channel number) at which the far wall reflection pulse reaches its peakenergy. Conceptually, the threshold keeps being lowered to the height ofthe last within-wall reverberation peak. The first pulse peak whoseamplitude increases from its predecessor is taken as the far wallreflection.

In an embodiment of the present method, the variablepulse-peak-detection threshold function is generated using two passes.On the first pass, the threshold value for each channel is the largestenergy (first derivative of CSS) value that occurred in the previous Mchannels, where M is the number of channels between peaks of energypulses reverberating within the wall. This first pass for creating avariable threshold generates a staircase-like function (not shown)having horizontal steps joined by rises and falls that are not perfectlyvertical. A graphical representation of the second pass is showncomprising a series of steps 40 having horizontal steps 42 and verticalsections 44. The vertical sections 44 are adjusted to be substantiallyvertical (i.e. have an infinite slope) while keeping the horizontalsteps 42 substantially the same except for extending them left or right.This is accomplished by extending each horizontal step 42 leftward tothe last channel of a higher step whenever a higher step 42 lies to itsleft.

Similarly, when a higher step 48 lies to the right of an adjacent lowerstep 46, the lower step 46 is extended rightward to the first channel ofthe higher step 48. Completion of the second pass generates a variablethreshold that looks like a staircase whose vertical sections have asubstantially infinite slope. Since the peaks of the inner-wallreverberation pulses get smaller over time, the first pulse whose peakincreases over its predecessor's peak must be the signal that isreflected from the far wall (third wall 28). Accordingly, fluid soundspeed is twice the fluid-filled gap distance divided by the round triptime between the first within-wall reverberation and the far-wallreflection. One of the many advantages of the ability to distinguishbetween signals representing near wall reverberations and signals thatrepresent far wall reflections is that the signal generator 16 can bepositioned within the confines of the vessel or container 20, on itsouter circumference, or even within the body of the container 20 (i.e.between the first and second walls 24 and 26 or between the third andfourth walls 28 and 30).

An additional advantage to using the device and method disclosed hereinis the ability to determine if the analyzed fluid contains gas or is atits bubble point. Gases always attenuate sound much more than liquids.The presence of any separate gaseous phase highly attenuates acousticsignals. Thus, if the reflected signal 19 is non-existent or very weak,this condition can indicate that the sampled fluid 18 contains someseparated gaseous phase (bubbles) or consists primarily of a gaseousphase. It should be pointed out that with regard to acoustic signals,attenuation increases as the square of the frequency according to theclassical acoustic attenuation equation derived by Stokes and Kirchhoff.Gas dissolved in a liquid will not have the same high attenuation ofacoustic energy as do free gas bubbles or 100% gas. However, the moregas that is dissolved in a liquid, the higher the compressibility.Therefore, for petroleum fluids, sound speed could be used to estimate acrude oil's gas oil ratio (GOR), which is always expressed in StandardCubic Feet of Gas per Stock Tank Barrel of Crude Oil. For example, TerraBulloch (1999 Masters Thesis, Michigan Technological University)calculated that, at 6000 psi and 85 C, the sound speed of a particularlive crude oil drops quite linearly from approximately 1370 m/sec (forGOR=80) to approximately 915 m/sec (for GOR=1300). Accordingly, todetermine the presence of gas bubbles within a fluid sample, acousticsignals generated into the fluid should exceed 100 kHz so as to beattenuated below the detection level of the instrument within thepathlength of a few millimeters of fluid between 26 and 28. To keep theacoustic wavelength small compared to the short distance between 24 and26, the acoustic frequency should be substantially in the range of about5 MHz to about 10 MHz.

Determination of the bubble point of the sampled fluid could involveoperating the sampling system 22 as described above while at the sametime reducing the pressure of the fluid 18. Assuming reflected signals19 are measured at the start of the bubble point test, the correspondingbubble point pressure could be determined at the time when reflectedsignals 19 are no longer measurable despite generating signals 17. Forelectrically-insulating fluids, sound speed could also be used toestimate the fluid's thermal conductivity using Bridgman's equation,which states that the thermal conductivity is proportional to the speedof sound times Boltzman's constant (1.38E10-23 Joule/degree Kelvin)times the number of molecules per unit volume. The proportionalityconstant can range from about 2.8 to about 3.0. Knowledge of a fluid'sthermal conductivity can be useful for estimating subsurface temperaturegradients in a geothermal reservoir, evaluating heat losses duringthermally induced enhanced oil recovery process, and determining heatlosses from underground fluid. Sitakanta Mohanty, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys.30 No 24 (21 Dec. 1997).

It should be pointed out that other data processing methods could beused in conjunction with the methods described herein. For example, anadditional step of alternatively determining sound speed by thetraditional cross correlation technique could be done once theapproximate time of arrival of the far wall reflection has beendetermined by the variable threshold technique.

The present invention described herein, therefore, is well adapted tocarry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, aswell as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodimentof the invention has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerouschanges exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desiredresults. For example, production of the generated signal 17 is notlimited to a signal generator 16 disposed within or adjacent to thesampling system 22, but could include signal generators from remotesources. The remote signal sources could be from ballistics, geophones,airguns, or any other known signal-generating source. These and othersimilar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilledin the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of thepresent invention disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of estimating a fluid property within a vessel comprising:generating an acoustic signal that reflects off at least two surfaces;measuring the signal travel time; determining the fluid sound speedbased on the measured travel time; and calculating the property of thefluid based on the fluid sound speed.
 2. The method of estimating afluid property of claim 1 wherein the step of determining fluid densityis based on the measured time travel.
 3. The method of estimating afluid property of claim 1 further comprising of positioning fluidbetween the surfaces proximate to a signal generator and activating thesignal generator thereby creating acoustic signal reverberations throughthe fluid.
 4. The method of estimating a fluid property of claim 1wherein the step of generating a signal is performed with a deviceselected from the list consisting of a piezoelectric device, an EMAT, apulsed laser, and a flexural resonator.
 5. The method of estimating afluid property of claim 1 wherein the fluid property is selected fromthe list consisting of fluid compressibility, fluid thermalconductivity, and fluid gas oil ratio.
 6. The method of estimating afluid property of claim 5, wherein the value of the fluidcompressibility is the reciprocal of the product of the fluid soundspeed squared and the fluid density.
 7. The method of estimating a fluidproperty of claim 1 further comprising determining the presence of gaswithin the fluid.
 8. The method of estimating a fluid property of claim7, wherein the presence of gas is detected based on a signal strengthranging from no response to a low response.
 9. The method of estimatinga fluid property of claim 1 further comprising processing the measuredsignal travel time with a Savitzky-Golay method.
 10. The method ofestimating a fluid property of claim 9 further comprising processing themeasured signal with a variable threshold method.
 11. A sampling devicecomprising: two surfaces having fluid therebetween; a processorconfigured to compute the cumulative sum of squares of signal amplitude;a signal generator proximate to one of the surfaces; and a receiverproximate to the other surface, wherein said receiver is capable ofrecording signal amplitude, wherein the fluid sound speed can bedetermined by analyzing the signal travel time, and wherein a fluidproperty can be determined based on the fluid sound speed.
 12. Thesampling device of claim 11, wherein the fluid property is selected fromthe list consisting of compressibility, density, gas oil ratio, gascontent, bubble point, and thermal conductivity.
 13. The sampling deviceof claim 11 further comprising a processor in cooperation with saidreceiver for calculating the fluid property.
 14. The sampling device ofclaim 11, wherein said signal generator also acts as a receiver.
 15. Thesampling device of claim 11 wherein the fluid is connate fluid.
 16. Thesampling device of claim 11, wherein the signal generator is selectedfrom the group consisting of a piezoelectric device, an EMAT, a pulsedlaser, and a flexural resonator.
 17. A method of determining the arrivaltime of an acoustic signal, having an amplitude, the method comprising:taking the cumulative sum of squares of the signal amplitude.
 18. Themethod of determining fluid density of claim 17 further comprisingdetermining the fluid compressibility based on the determined fluiddensity and the measured signal travel time.
 19. The method ofdetermining fluid density of claim 17 wherein the step of generating asignal and passing the signal through a fluid is accomplished by placinga sample of fluid within a vessel in communication with a signalgenerator and activating the signal generator thereby creating anacoustic signal within the fluid.
 20. The method of determining fluiddensity of claim 17 wherein the step of generating a signal is performedwith a device selected from the list consisting of a piezoelectricdevice, an EMAT, a pulsed laser, and a flexural resonator.
 21. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising determining the presence of gaswithin the fluid.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the presence ofgas is detected based on a signal strength ranging from no response to alow response.
 23. The method of determining fluid density of claim 17further comprising measuring the thermal conductivity of the fluid andusing the measured thermal conductivity to determine the fluid density.24. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid is a downhole connatefluid.
 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal passes through afluid, the method further comprising: generating a signal; passing thesignal through the fluid; measuring the signal travel time through thefluid; determining the fluid density; determining the fluid sound speedbased on the measured travel time; and calculating the thermalconductivity of the fluid based on the fluid density and the fluid soundspeed.
 26. The method of determining the thermal conductivity of a fluidof claim 25, wherein the thermal conductivity of the fluid is equal tothe following product; (p)(k)(c)(N), where p=a proportionality constantranging from 2.8 to 3.0, k=Boltzmann's constant, c=fluid sound speed,and N=molecules per unit volume of the fluid.
 27. The method ofdetermining the thermal conductivity of a fluid of claim 25, wherein thefluid is a downhole connate fluid.
 28. The method of determining thethermal conductivity of a fluid of claim 25 further comprising disposingthe fluid within a vessel.
 29. The method of determining thermalconductivity of a fluid of claim 25 wherein the step of generating asignal is performed with a device selected from the list consisting of apiezoelectric device, an EMAT, a pulsed laser, and a flexural resonator.30. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining the gas oilratio of the fluid, wherein the gas oil ratio of the fluid based on thefluid sound speed.
 31. The method of determining the gas oil ratio of afluid of claim 30 wherein the fluid is a downhole connate fluid.
 32. Themethod of determining gas oil ratio of a fluid of claim 30 wherein thestep of generating a signal is performed with a device selected from thelist consisting of a piezoelectric device, an EMAT, a pulsed laser, anda flexural resonator.
 33. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetermining the fluid density.
 34. The method of claim 33, furthercomprising determining a property of the fluid based on the fluiddensity.
 35. The sampling device of claim 11 wherein the sampling deviceis capable of determining the fluid property based on the fluid density.36. The method of claim 17 further comprising taking the secondderivative of the cumulative sum of squares.
 37. The method of claim 17further comprising taking the second derivative of the cumulative sum ofsquares using Savitzky-Golay.